DRUG dealers selling ice, cannabis or narcotics work close to home. But it seems cocaine dealers commute.
An analysis of official crime data reveals that while the Sydney CBD and eastern suburbs dominate the list for cocaine trafficking and dealing reports, many coke dealers call western Sydney home.
The data released to Newslocal from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics (BOCSAR) records the suburbs where alleged offenders or ‘Persons of Interest’ (POIs) — who had legal action commenced against them by police — reside. POIs may not be convicted in court but were proceeded against in some way by police.
The top six locations for cocaine trafficking/dealing offences between 2011 and March 2017 were Sydney (119), Surry Hills (94), Darlinghurst (68), Potts Point (60) and Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction (both 45).
During the same period, Guildford in Sydney’s west was home to the most people suspected or charged with cocaine dealing/trafficking.
In all, 46 POIs — including 21 last year — were identified. Also on the list was Long Jetty (33) on the Central Coast, Auburn (26) and Greenacre in the south west (23). Darlinghurst was the only inner city suburb in the top five.
Police Minister Troy Grant has revealed he wanted NSW to be the first state to include cocaine in roadside drug tests. It will be part of a plan to crack down on the abuse of the drug in the richest suburbs.
Rose Bay crime manager, detective chief inspector Damian Henry said police were proactively dealing with Double Bay’s high cocaine usage.
Ten people were charged with possession and or use of cocaine in the suburb in 2011, compared to 118 in 2016.
POLICE GO AFTER SYDNEY’S COKED UP EASTERN SUBURBS
[“Source-indianexpress”]
